Dismay over plans to move Post Office

A campaign is underway to prevent the closure of Gomersal Post Office.

Post Office chiefs want to move its location from its current premises on Spen Lane into McColl’s newsagents further down the road as part of cost-cutting measures.

A consultation over the plans has officially started, with members of the public able to table their views before December 1.

Although the proposed move will not impact greatly on post officer users and their travel time, it will mean that Gomersal’s current Postmaster Paul Rakhra, and his wife Hazel will lose their jobs.

Mr Rakhra was told that due to the end of government subsidies to keep Post Office premises afloat he would have to combine the day to day running with a profitable business, or else accept defeat.

Mr Rakhra, 55, told the Guardian: “Unfortunately there’s not a lot I can do about it.

“Unless I can do something from here that will turn over a few thousand pounds a week then it will close. It’s happening everywhere. As Postmasters we’ve been told its a choice but when you’re caught between a rock and a hard place it’s not much of a choice.”

The post office business has been run from the building since 1860.

Coun Lisa Holmes, who has taken up the campaign said: When Paul and Hazel took on the post office they were led to believe it was a safe business. I want the Post Office to give everyone the full story, not just part of it. How can we have a proper consultation if the stakeholders don’t know all the facts?”